Improvement in indicators and low-water alarms for boilers



M. ELLWOUD.

indicator and Low-Water Alarms for Boilers.

Patented March 11,1873.

Enron.

ATE-NT MARK ELLWOOD, or GIRARD, 01110.

IMPRGVEMENT IN INDICATORS AND LOW-WATER ALARMS FOR BCILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,646, dated March 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK ELLWOOD, of Girard, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Indicator and Low Water Alarm for Steam-Boilers, of which the following is a specification The object of this invention is to provide eflicient means for indicating the quantity of water, and giving the alarm in case of low water, in steam boilers; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line as w of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an end view, showing the device as applied to the boiler, the boiler-head being removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of Fig. 1, taken on the line y y.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This apparatus indicates the quantity of water in a steam-boiler, and gives an alarm by'blowing a whistle in case of low water.

WVhen the boiler has a sufficiency of water it cuts off the steam from the pumping-engine, and stops thereby the supply of water. The manner of accomplishing this we will proceed to describe.

A is the shell of the boiler, from which the frame B, to which the actuating part of my apparatus is attached, is suspended by means of bolts. The apparatus consists of two sections, one being inside and one optside of the boiler, the former being the actuating part and the latter the indicating and alarm part. (3 is the lower or supporting plate. D is a float, made of any suitable material, which is supported in position by the vertical guides E, which connect the upper plate F with the lower plate 0 of the frame inside the boiler. G is a lever, whose fulcrum is at H. On one end is a sector-wheel, I, which engages with the vertical sliding rack J. The other end of this lever is connectedwith the bottom of the float by the rod K, and also has a counterweight, L, which is designed to balance the rack J so that the float, as it rises and falls with the water in the boiler, will cause a corresponding motion in the rack J, with but chamber M, and has upon its upper end an index=pointer, Q. This pointer passesover the face of the graduated dial-plate R, and, its position being governed by the action of the float, and consequently by the height of the water in the boiler, will indicate, by means of the marks and figures on the plate, the

quantity of water in the boiler. The dialplate and pointer are secured by a cemented glass plate, It, so that it is distinctly visible. S is a steam-pipe, which connects with the steam-whistle T, as seen in Fig. 1. The entrance of the steam into this pipe is governed by the action of the valve U in the valvechamber V. (See Fig. 2.) This valve is on the lower end of the rod W, and is actuated by the arm X on the upper end of therack J. Y is a collar on the valve-rod. The arm X slides freely on the valve-rod, and when it strikes the collar the valve is lifted from its seat, steam enters the pipe S, and the whistle is blown, thus giving the alarm for low water. Z is a pipe which connects the boiler with the pumping-engine. When there is a suflicient supply of water this pipe is closed by the cone-valve Z, on top of the float D.

When the water in the boiler falls the valves fall with the float, and the pumping-engine is again supplied with steam.

-It will be seen that the whole action is automatic, and governed by the position or action of the float.

If the engineer neglects to observe the dial, when the water in the boiler falls to-a dangerous point the alarm whistle is sure to call him to his duty.

I do not confine myself to the preciseform and arrangement of parts herein described, as variations may be made without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A water-indicator and low-water alarm, consisting of the float D, sector-lever Gr I, rack J, with arms P and X, tube M, rod 0, dial It, steam-pipe S, and whistle T, the apparatus being partly within and partly without the boiler, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

2. The combination of the sector I, rack 'J, rod 0, and the tube S, as and for the purposes described.

Witnesses: MARK ELLWQ OD.

WILLIAM CASEY, BENJAMIN QUNNINGHAM. 

